Midnight Desires Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Midnight Desires Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 30, 2024

1976’s “Midnight Desires” offers a break from the adult movie norm. Certainly, there’s plenty of carnal activity to survey, sold by a troupe of capable actors. However, writer/director Shaun Costello is clearly looking to try something different with the endeavor, which examines a night of gamesmanship and psychoanalysis involving two couples and their strange sense of entertainment. “Midnight Desires” is a bit baffling at times, and perhaps too mean during one sequence, but it’s an unusual picture in an industry that’s almost entirely consumed with pumping out the same product.

Jon (Eric Edwards) is a stock analyst in line for a promotion, joined by his wife, Amy (Jenny Baxter), accepting an invitation to visit a mansion owned by Martin (Jamie Gillis), his boss. Expecting a night of card games and small talk, Jon and Amy are soon introduced to Martin’s wife, Elaine (C.J. Laing), and they’re hit by the news that Germany has invaded Poland, with war declared. Martin doesn’t take this reality well, asking a confused Jon and Amy to play a confession game with him and Elaine, helping to work through his anxiety. The foursome offer individual stories of deep fantasies, celebrating such imagination, but also analyzing the meaning behind these layered desires.

It's safe to report that the World War II addition to “Midnight Desires” actually means something to the feature in the end, but it’s certainly confusing when it’s initially introduced. Personally, I thought the production didn’t have the money to stage a period film, simply employing newspaper headlines fed to Martin by his butler to use as proof of the time. “Midnight Desires” doesn’t have anything to do with global conflict, instead settling into a room with Jon, Amy, Martin, and Elaine for a special game where they describe their most colorful fantasies, helping to break the ice and spice up an evening previously devoted to traditional competition.

“Midnight Desires” offers four vignettes from the couples, with Elaine going first, exploring her position as an object of humiliation and submission for some type of cult ceremony. Jon details an experience with a prostitute and a mystery woman in a tuxedo looking to use a sex toy on him. Martin’s tale is the most elaborate, positioning himself as an aspiring boxer asked to fail by a gangster, taking out his anger on the crime lord’s moll (Vanessa del Rio) with help from other athletes. And Amy goes back in time to 18th century England, imagining herself as a lonely woman tasked with caring of traveling soldiers. These sequences conclude with moments of conversation, watching the foursome deconstruct their fantasies, finding out more about themselves.

Midnight Desires Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 3K from a 35mm answer print." Wear and tear is common during the viewing experience, with many scratches, along with judder. Detail goes about as far as possible with this source, delivering some sense of skin particulars during a few erotic encounters. Formalwear for the part also carries some texture. Mansion interiors are limited, but depth is appreciable. Colors are capably refreshed, with crisp black and whites around the household. Fantasies carry more varied hues, exploring style choices and decoration. Grain is heavy and film-like. Delineation is satisfactory.

Midnight Desires Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a straightforward listening experience. There's some age in play, but dialogue exchanges are clear, exploring performance choices and accents. Music supports with a milder sound.

Midnight Desires Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Shaun Costello.

• Image Gallery (3:20) collects poster art, newspaper ads, and film stills.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:25, HD) is included.

Midnight Desires Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Midnight Desires" has some actual filmmaking craft behind it, offering sharp editing and decent cinematography. Performances are also compelling, with the cast working to sell the oddity of the fantasies and the passions that fuel them. Martin's experience with sexual assault sticks out as nasty business in a feature that doesn't need it, but "Midnight Desires" doesn't crumble. It sustains its study of cravings and analysis to the end, with a minor but necessary punchline awaiting those who've been patient with some of the weirder elements of the movie.